Software for which the source code is published publicly and which can be changed by users.
13
votes
3answers
487 views
“What if you get hit by a bus?”
I'm negotiating a B2B licensing deal for some technology.
I typically license it as a managed service, and don't share code, because I want to protect trade secrets.
A new potential client is hoping ...
11
votes
5answers
771 views
Creating non-profit startup from open-source software project
I founded an open-source software project for voting about 8 years ago. It has been mostly a solo project, and it is very successful in that it is by far the most well known and most used software in ...
9
votes
4answers
507 views
Making money out of a free and open-source application
I've been working on a free and open-source wiki application since 2006 (that's 4 years!), and now my startup has taken over the development. Well, at least "officially".
We make several thousands ...
8
votes
11answers
780 views
Make my failed Web application open source?
I've outsourced the creation of Web Spy Pro (www.webspypro.com) last year.
It's a Webanalytics software that record/play the visitor mouse movements, so you can see exactly what visitors are doing on ...
8
votes
8answers
474 views
How to turn a WordPress plugin into a business?
Over the past two years, I've developed a relatively successful WordPress plugin. It started out as a hobby project, but now I'd like to try and turn it into a business.
About the plugin
Checks the ...
6
votes
4answers
735 views
Advantages and Disadvantages of Making Source Code Public
I like the idea of open source collaboration and making our code for our application we are building public on github. This would allow people to give their input and even allow certain parts of the ...
5
votes
10answers
2k views
CMS for online magazine startup?
I want to start an online magazine website and I'd like to know what platform to use.
Something like Wordpress, Drupal, and other CMS systems, any recommendations?
5
votes
4answers
480 views
How to enter a market dominated by a poor Open-Source product
An established but somehow abandoned open-source project dominates a niche market.
We wonder why users recommend this software everywhere as it is ridiculuosly complicated and geeky to configure. I ...
4
votes
3answers
221 views
Is opensourcing your product a good strategy?
Many companies going to the opensource route these days. Jetbrains is one example of a company that opensourced their well reknown IntelliJ IDEA after been commercializing it. Some company has started ...
4
votes
7answers
360 views
Will Open-Sourcing my SaaS solution positively impact revenue?
I have yet to go public with my SaaS startup, and am considering releasing it under an open-source license.
Below are some thoughts I've collated in answer to this question:
No
As competitors ...
4
votes
3answers
282 views
Tips on open-source project - should it be free, licensed, etc?
I have been working on this project seen here. It is a Photography CMS (like WordPress). I cannot visualize a business model to provide funds to support the project. I want to release it as a free, ...
3
votes
1answer
158 views
Start an Open Source Development
I am a freelance developer and I basically develop ERP, graphics software, components, web and other such things. I always thought about an open source development of the software that I basically ...
3
votes
3answers
545 views
Can you modify code under the MIT Open Source licence?
I'm considering building an community over Pinax. The out-of-the-box functionality covers maybe 60% of what we need to do. We're more than happy to debug and support the base code set but need to keep ...
3
votes
2answers
420 views
How did Magento create an commercial Enterprise version when magento is open source?
It's interesting how an open source product has a commercial version, nice business strategy to get market penetration!
How did Magento create an commercial Enterprise version when magento is open ...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
Do I need to pay for a commercial licence?
I'm working on a software application in a large company as consultant. I use a library released as Dual License Model (AGPL v3 and Commercial).
Do I need to purchase a commercial license to use the ...
3
votes
3answers
256 views
Sponsorship of an open source project, how much to charge?
I have a reasonably successful open-source project ( www.mediabrowser.tv ). The website is seeing over 50K unique visitors a month.
I would like to monetize some of this traffic by offering a ...
2
votes
4answers
224 views
Any good guides on starting out as consultant?
Okay, so my reason for wanting to become a consultant is so it's easier for communication between my clients and future clients. Right now, I've sold myself as a 3 employee start up company, but ...
2
votes
3answers
194 views
How do ensure I am not violating any Open Source licenses when I sell my software?
I few months back I was talking to friend who works in M&A for a big software company and he was telling me that a large deal just got killed because they realized that part of the code was built ...
2
votes
4answers
149 views
Getting people involved in product design and development
I still don't get the behavior or motivation behind people developing pieces for your game(software) for free...
why would anybody do that?
2
votes
2answers
47 views
Any tips for preparing a Contributor License for an Open Source Project?
In spite of some of the advice on Answers.OnStartups, I've recently open-sourced a library I wrote for a vertical niche (http://atdl4net.org/ if anyone is interested, although it isn't too relevant to ...
2
votes
3answers
69 views
Changing Licensing model for a Software Framework to more permissive
I'm author of the "Agile Toolkit" Framework. Currently it's available under dual license
Affero GPL - any use, personal or commercial
Permissive license for $130/domain
Permissive license for ...
2
votes
5answers
400 views
Where can I propose an open source project and collaborate on software requirements before starting to code?
I'm searching for a website to start a new open source project--I want to start the developing of a "Sport Training Log".
I have some software development skills, but not everything I need (I don't ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Web-based Business Built on Open Source and Questions about Funding Options
it's my first post here so be gentle :)
First, I've read a few similar posts to the one I'm writing but I wasn't able to find an answer that fit the same mold.
Project Details:
I have been involved ...
2
votes
1answer
94 views
Can I use crowd-funding to switch to an open-source model?
I am the technical founder of a 4-years-old startup. After two rounds of funding with small European VCs, some very good customers (government agencies, big retail customer, ...), a unique product and ...
2
votes
7answers
1k views
Open-source, cloud-based project management software options? [closed]
I'm looking for a good solution for a cloud-based project management software for startups.
I really like 37 Signals "Basecamp", but cannot justify the monthly fee at this moment with all the ...
2
votes
4answers
347 views
How to find people interested to participate in a brand-new open-source project?
I recently set up an open-source infrastructure for Obix.
Obix is a new, object-oriented programming language designed to help people writing more reliable code in less time. More information can be ...
2
votes
4answers
143 views
Need advice on getting the word out about an open source and free site
A few months back I got tired of doing portfolio tracking in a spreadsheet and sat down and made a site. I got a few friends and family to start using it as well for their portfolios but have been ...
1
vote
8answers
258 views
Do 2 Part time Developers = 1 full time developer?
If I could partner with 2 or more part time developers, would this be enough and as good as having a full time developer? Eg 4 part time developers = 2 full time developers?
I am basing this on the ...
1
vote
2answers
326 views
Please explain to me , how does software like SMPlayer or VLC or UMPlayer do revenue (all open source)
as software developer, i can't understand how does software's like SMPlayer or VLC or UMPlayer
do there revenue , they all open-source they all downloaded Millions of times they all
professional ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Selling app containing open source package
I'm building an app that contains an open source package protected under EDL license
http://www.eclipse.org/org/documents/edl-v10.php
Can I sell it?
Do I need to specify something in my app's ...
1
vote
2answers
190 views
What are business models of open source projects?
I'm thinking about developing a software library for iPhone with my friend. Our target is a developing country where the mobile phone market is still very young, compared to U.S. The problem is that I ...
1
vote
6answers
347 views
Open source model for startups - is it possible?
There is an open source development model for software which is quite popular. I am wondering if this idea is applicable for startups?
Imagine there is a web based start up at its early stage which ...
1
vote
4answers
155 views
Does building upon open source software affect company valuation positively?
Most startups and quick-risers promoted publicly are building intellectual property on top of open source software stacks. Aside from avoiding upfront investments towards license, is there any ...
1
vote
2answers
155 views
Should I make a website open source?
I want to make a website, that is by definition a software, but I don't remind seeing any open source websites. My website like many is supposed to pay itself by ads.
Is there a reason why I should ...
1
vote
2answers
148 views
What are the legalities concerning supporting open source software?
For the last couple months, I have been building small HTPCs with a variety of software on them, tailored to what my customers (so far just my friends) want.
There is a market there, but I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Need help to understand the pros and cons between open source vs closed source license for webapp?
I'd like to ask you for the help/advise to come out of the problem that came out recently in our group.
We're working for 3-4 months on the web application similar to http://instagram.com/ or ...
1
vote
2answers
184 views
Monetization of a big open-source software frameworks
Let's consider jQuery is an example project for my question.
jQuery is the most renown java script open source software framework nowadays. It was created when working with JavaScript was a real ...
1
vote
2answers
57 views
Smaller Project for Free Open Source as Leverage
Is it smart to release a small project as free and open-source to display my abilities as a programmer.
I don't mean that in a "Hey, look at me, I'm awesome!" way.
I mean it in a "This is the quality ...
1
vote
2answers
207 views
How to earn from an OpenSource Venture
do you know how people earn through open source ventures? When free and open source projects help many in great ways, still I think that the people who get involved in it full time (not volunteers) ...
1
vote
4answers
214 views
Hosted Scripts Web Startup
I'm starting a web startup that hosts open source scripts such as wordpress, joomla, phpbb etc for free, any user gets a working website, with a sub-domain.
Users get free sub-domain and hosting, ...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
FLOSS licensing: should I force copyleft notice in footer?
I'm developing a fairly large web-application with a public-facing JSON REST API, mobile apps for every platform (using AngularJS with Apache Cordova) and specialised e-commerce configurable by users.
...
1
vote
2answers
143 views
How to structure pre-paid professional support for an Open Source product?
I'm offering professional support for an open source product, with the blessings of the team behind it.
What is a good way to structure support to make this good for my clients AND worth my while?
...
1
vote
2answers
100 views
Commerical Open Source and Community Open Source
I am thinking on working on an ERP system that I can sell or support on it. Currently, I have OpenERP and Tryton in my mind. Based on the comparison done on Wikipedia and other website, I was noticed ...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
Are patents also relevant for open-source software providers?
Afaik, patents restrict commercial use of a patented idea.
But what about open-source providers who are giving away the software without commercial interest? Do patents apply to them at all or can ...
1
vote
1answer
121 views
What's the best automation trick you know that would relate to most startups? [closed]
Believe the question is clear, if you have questions, just let me know. All real answers will get a vote up by me, and I will select an answer in 24-48 hours. Cheers!
Example: MS-Word Mail Merge, ...
1
vote
2answers
213 views
turning open source software into a consulting business?
just some general and specific questions about running a business which uses open source software and sells training, services, and other value added solutions utilizing the open source asset(s) ...
1
vote
1answer
280 views
Developing open-source project via sponsorship or company-to-individual contracting as a path to a startup/incorporation?
I've been working on open-source projects for years basically without pay. Although I had a salary while I helped develop these projects under the umbrella need for something at work, much of the ...
0
votes
5answers
289 views
Is the traditional 'selling (closed source) software licenses' model still a viable business model?
I have developed a library that I would like to license to customers in the traditional way: users are paying for a license for a closed source library which allows them to use the library for a ...
0
votes
3answers
135 views
Opensource vs custom development strategy
The possible advantages of using something like Drupal is a dev time-saver. But if we were to develop a minimum viable product / proof of concept / prototype using Drupal, other developers could own ...
0
votes
1answer
738 views
How can Android be open source and trademarked at the same time?
I'm trying to understand more about open source projects and trademarks.
From what I know, Android is an open source project, although started by Google, is not owned by anybody. If that's the case, ...
